An ancient tradition is helping girls in Zimbabwe fight child marriages

📰 What the Story Says

• In rural Zimbabwe, a revival of a traditional custom called “Nhanga” is being used to push back against child marriage. (AP News)

• Historically, “Nhanga” (which literally means “girls’ bedroom”) was a space where adolescent girls were taught household duties, social norms, and how to behave as wives. (AP News)

• Now, this tradition has been repurposed: it’s become a safe, peer-led forum for girls to openly discuss issues like sexuality, early pregnancy, child marriage, education, and gender power dynamics. (AP News)

• The revival is organized by Rozaria Memorial Trust, which runs Nhanga sessions grouped by age (from as young as 5 up to women over 35). (AP News)

• Practical life skills (e.g. soap-making, poultry farming) are also taught in these sessions to improve economic independence. (AP News)

• Community elders and local chiefs are being drawn in: some enforce anti-child-marriage rules (e.g. fining offenders) or vow to help girls return to school after early pregnancies. (AP News)

📊 Broader Context & Challenges

• According to UNICEF and local data, roughly 1 in 3 girls in Zimbabwe marry before age 18. (AP News)

• Although Zimbabwe’s constitution and courts have outlawed child marriage (i.e. no one under 18 may marry), enforcement is weak in many rural areas. (Girls Not Brides)

• Many drivers remain: poverty, social norms, gender inequality, and belief systems that see girls as financial or social burdens. (Girls Not Brides)

• Even when girls get pregnant or marry young, stigma may prevent their re-entry into school. Some communities treat them as “punished” rather than victims. (AP News)

If you like, I can dig into the success rate or impact of the new Nhanga model (how many girls avoid child marriage or return to school) or look at policy responses by the government and NGOs. Do you want me to explore those?

• AP News